David Murphy at pcmag.com recently posted an article discussing statements made by Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. In his statement, the FRC president is speaking out against BioWares decision to include same-sex relationships in future content, and calls for supporters to head to the official forums and make their voices heard. For those unfamiliar with the FRC they are a nonprofit organization that identifies themselves as the “the leading voice for family in our nation’s hall of power.” They can often be seen and heard on the front line against homosexuals, bisexuals, transgendered individuals, as well as fighting against pro-choice supporters across the nation.

The debate over whether or not to include same-sex relationships in SWTOR is nothing new to long time followers of the game. In 2009 community manager Sean Dahlberg stated that “Gay and Lesbian are terms do not exist in Star Wars” (despite the fact that Juhani, a companion character from BioWare’s Knights of the Old Republic, is widely believed to be the first homosexual character in the Star Wars universe) and the debate about the issue of same-sex relationships has burned on ever since. The latest news from BioWare is that a future patch will allow for same-sex relationships between the player and their companion characters, and the only reason it was not included in the game’s launch was a logistics issue.

For many players the debate is a non-issue. Sure there are some rather vocal members on both sides, but most have a “if it’s in it’s in, if it’s not it’s not” approach to the whole matter. Perhaps the FRC’s statements will begin to fuel the flames of the debate once more, but for now players should still expect to see same-sex relationships coming to TOR before long.

One last thing to add, the tweet by David Murphy promoting his article was one of the cleverest I have seen in a while, enjoy. “You can let the Wookiee win; you just can’t let him be gay”

You can read David’s article here, and the statement made by the FRC here.

9 Responses to “FRC Speaks Out Against Same-Sex Relationships in TOR”

While the FRC are at it why not also circle a petition to get Bioware to reduce the possible skin colors on the dark side of the slider as well, that would be swell. And wouldn’t it be great if all that blaspheming talk of this “force” could be more straight foreward too. I mean we all know there is only one Gawd. Oh yeah, and Harry Potter is the devil too.

I dunno, I always thought that we had bigger problems in the world than whether or not homosexuality was in a computer game. Speaking as a “gaymer”, I’ll just roll my eyes and hope that BioWare move on with their plans. But if they don’t…well I’ll be disappointed but I won’t rail against the game over it.

I think the fact that this is an issue is ridiculous. I am not anti or pro-gay… I simply do not care either way. None of us have a right to judge someone for their sexual orientation, whichever way they go. One question I would like to ask is: “To what extant is Bioware going to go to please groups, however large or small, in the game?” Let’s say a group of polygamists or pedophiles wants their particular tastes added into the game… is Bioware going to please them just because they bitch and complain? Bottom line is, if you do not like the game and/or the content included or not included in the game, quit playing!

What I care about are all the bugs that need to be fixed in the game. I do not get why anyone cares about relationships with their companions when there are so many bugs and glitches that need to be fixed. Fix the shit that matters in the game!

This is definitely a non-issue and the FRC needs to shut up. This is a game that includes RP as an activity. For some of us, a lot of us, it’s not simply about making a character who is bi, gay, or lesbian. It’s about playing a character of the other gender and NOT wanting to seem gay by playing, say, a girl who does like guys. I’m not into guys. I want to romance a female character, but my female character is not allowed to romance anybody but Theran right now. I want the option to romance a girl in some lesbian action, simply because romancing Theran makes ME IN REAL LIFE feel gay. Romancing male characters while playing a female makes me feel uncomfortable.

I would have thought that Bioware was already boycotted by all the ‘anti-homosexuality’ groups due to the fact that every game from Mass Effect onward has had homosexual content in it.

But Bioware always have been and will most like alway be about CHOICE. In none of their games do you HAVE to engage in a homosexual romance. So the worst Bioware will do because of this protest is send them a fruit basket and thank you card for all the free advertising. Think back the whole affair of their ‘pornographic sex scene’ in Mass Effect 1.

I personally do not have an issue with potential homosexual relationships within the game. “gays” are gamers to, and it is content they may want, rather than their character being forced into celebacy or a heterosexual relationship.

As homosexual relationships had been an option in Bioware’s previous games, I thought it may have been skipped over due to censorship regulations, and the possibly of losing the Teen classification. If Bioware adds it to SWTOR, I will fully support it, even if it is as creepy as Dwarf on Elf action I experienced in Dragon Age.

Glad to see that the FRC draw the line somewhere, and fully approve of inter-species relationships. Relationships with green skin aliens is fine, as long as they are not the same gender.